"Surely, you have more courage than a group of kids, Phil," Kalix giggled, "Come with us. See for yourselves. Go ahead, or follow behind. Then if your heart is not satisfied that we are capable then leave. But be warned: if you refuse to join the fight, you shall find no more quarter among us."

Remaining turns:
Arkades - move up to 2 and act
Phil - can speak once more this round
Vir - move up to 1 and act
Lucas - can speak once more this round

"Too much courage and too little sense has been the death of many a man and animal alike," Phil replied gruffly, "let's hope this beast has even less sense than the lot of you!"

Phil almost shook his head in disbelief. They'd lost their parents to this beast, or so they said anyway, yet they didn't seem afraid, almost eager to face the beast even. He suspected they had something up their sleave, but he had no idea what. "This could easily become a blood-bath," he thought to himself.

Kalix scowls with displeasure. "See for yourself, woodsman."

OOC: I think this is going to get really interesting. :D

Remaining turns:
Arkades - move up to 2 and act
Vir - move up to 1 and act
Lucas - can speak once more this round

OOC: Oh look. It's time for me to mess with Stoic's ruleset again :D

Arkades focused his mind, relaxing his innate defenses and concentrating on Vir's name. He formed words in his mind, letting each linger for a moment and focusing on the overall idea. "Please remind Phil that by accompanying this child, we will gain the locations of both groups and then may act as we see fit. I did not promise we would harm the others, but only that we would march with these children." The priest smiled somewhat wolfishly over his shoulder at Vir and then turned back to the child.

"I am Father Arkades Le'Minz, my child. I am pleased to have your agreement. What is your name, then?" He smiled warmly, leaning heavily on his cane - less for support than to mitigate the intimidating superiority of stature he held over the half-grown girl.

OOC: Presumably this means you are giving Vir a sign that you wish to communicate with him. If he wants, I will allow him to read this message and then implant the message into Phil's mind. If so, that will require his turn this round and next (telepathy:read and telepathy:implant). I was almost tempted to let it all occur in this round but I think that would be a bad precedent as it would be a loophole that allows you to use 2 skills in one turn.

Phil, unless Vir chooses to abide, please act as if you didn't get this message.

Remaining turns:
Vir - move up to 1 and act
Lucas - can speak once more this round

OOC: Got it =) Btw, just say so if (any of) you think Phil is dragging his feet too much - it's not that he's unwilling to fight, but he is the "investigate & make a plan before acting" kind of guy. It's part of his backstory (that particular part may be told to the others later on), as well as him being used to rely only on himself most of the time (as a ranger).

OOC2: I'm pretty sure you (as the DM) wouldn't pitch us against some demi-god that would give a large party of battle-ready 100+ lvl's a run for their money, but Phil doesn't know that =P

OOC: That's cool. He should have a quest about his personal history at some point! (Actually, everyone should... if they want!) OOC: Realistically, I'm more inclined to see you all succeed rather than fail, no doubt about it. Lot more fun that way. So yeah, I doubt I would send you into a fight you can't win. Doesn't mean there won't be challenges though and failure IS an option. :P

OOC: That's fine! I should have asked you how you wanted to handle it, but that would have just delayed us too long for there to be a point. Sorry!

OOC: That's ok, no big deal!

BTW, I'm working on editing down the last quest into a short story and boy is it a doozy! I didn't realize how much went on. I'm a full page in and you've barely begun to enter the dungeon. Should be 10 pages by the end.

Remaining turns:
Vir - move up to 1 and act
Lucas - can speak once more this round

Keeping watch over the exchange from afar, Vir was growing uneasy. An unknown and possibly otherworldly creature stalking the woods, and these damnable children were eager to lay siege on it! He circled the group, entering the trees to their north [E6].

Vir paused as he met the outermost oak trees. To his south, Arkades seemed...more significant. Vir focused his mind on the cleric.

OOC: Since Telepathy - Read is an active skill on Vir's part, how would he "know" to read Arkades' mind without me reading Runehamster's post?

Part of Vir wanted to roll its eyes at the old man's suggestion. The reasoning seemed sound, but Vir was not confident that the girl and her tribe could restrain themselves from attacking their enemy on sight. Nor that the four of them could restrain fifty or more children from rash action.

OOC: My message to Phil will happen in the second round.

OOC: Arkades would have to give him a sign, stare him down, give him a hint that he was trying to communicate. OOC: Got it.

OOC: OK :)

"I'm Lucas Avarade," he said as he got up.

New round:

Remaining turns:

Lucas: move up to 2 and act
Phil: move up to 2 and act
Arkades: move up to 1 and act


Kalix implores you, "do we go now or what?"

"We go," said Phil, "but I still think it's a good idea to find out more about what we're up against. Would you at least allow me to scout ahead and find a position where I can put my bow to good use? I don't need much of a head start; just tell me where you're going to attack."

He glanced at the latest arrivals. They were just kids yet he hadn't noticed their presence until right before they appeared out of the woods.

"Those of you capable of moving unseen and unheard through these woods might also want to do the same. Hopefully, the main charge will be a surprise attack, but it wouldn't hurt to have more surprises in store for them," he offered, unsure if they'd even listen to him.

OOC: Not moving just yet (awaiting reply). Does this talk count as this round's action?